Do you have a friend that’s hard to buy for because all they love is travel? The only things they ever buy are plane tickets and hotel stays. Gifts for travelers can be hard to find, especially when you want to find a unique and personal gift that they’ll love and use!
Maybe you found this gift guide while searching for such a gift. Or maybe you’re like me: someone who loves to travel and just likes to look at gift guides to find something cool to buy for yourself! đ
Whatever the case may be, I’ve written this gift guide and filled it with my favorite travel necessities and creative ideas for gifts for travelers!
Check out these amazing gifts you should add to your holiday shopping list (or wish list) that are perfect for travelers!
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Maps
Every traveler needs a good map (or many maps!) to hang up in their home. And you don’t have to stick with a traditional map of the world. There are scratch-off maps so you can mark where you’ve been, or even maps that you can cover each state with a picture from your trip to that place. The possibilities are endless when it comes to maps and globes!
Here’s the scratch map of the world that I have. You can find it on Amazon!
You could also buy a custom map online of a special place or city. If it’s for a spouse, you could choose a map of where you first met or got married. If it’s for someone who is moving away, the map could be of the city they call home. This makes an amazing gift with a personal touch.
Hiking Socks
People who travel generally spend a lot of time walking, exploring, and sometimes hiking, but you don’t have to be a hiker to enjoy these amazingly soft and comfy socks from Wildly Good Socks! Whether you are taking a 3-day trek, a short hike, or even just hanging out at home, these Merino wool socks keep your feet warm in the cold and they breathe well in the heat. They also prevent blisters and aren’t itchy at all! I really can’t say enough good things about Wildly Good socks, and they make the perfect stocking stuffer!
Use my code “Light” when you check out on their site for 20% off your order!
Travel Essentials
Ok, this is more than one gift idea, but it’s sort of a group of related gifts. There are certain things that everybody needs when they go on a trip:
- Water bottle – It’s always handy to have a reusable water bottle. I prefer a metal/thermal bottle to keep my water cold on hikes.
- Neck pillows and eye masks- These are great for long plane rides, especially overnight flights.
- Luggage tags – There are so many cute options for luggage tags online. You definitely don’t want your luggage getting lost, so it’s best to have a recognizable luggage tag if your suitcase is more basic.
- Passport covers – If you’re going through the trouble of getting a passport, you might as well get a passport cover you like! You can find my favorite passport cover here. I love passport covers with pockets for all my cards and covers that close with snaps so nothing falls out.
Beats Headphones
Anyone going on a trip needs a decent pair of headphones to listen to their music and movies (or to block out the noise around them) on a plane. Beats makes my favorite headphones for both of these purposes. The sound quality and noise-canceling abilities are great. I have the Studio 3 Wireless headphones but the newer model is called the Solo3 Wireless headphones. They connect to your phone with Bluetooth, and have 40 hours of battery life! I prefer these headphones over every other pair I’ve tried. They come in rose gold (my favorite), or a variety of other colors.
Sketchbooks and Pens
If you’re buying a gift for someone with artistic talents, a sketchbook is a great way for them to capture the views they get to see on their travels. Coming from someone who loves to draw, you can never have too many sketchbooks! I personally love to draw with ink pens whether I’m traveling or not. My all-time favorite pens for sketching are the Sakura Pigma Micron ink pens. Professional artists use them because of their great quality and versatility, and they aren’t that expensive! Here’s my favorite pack of 6 different sized pens on Amazon.com.
Coloring Books Inspired by Travel
While we’re on the subject of artsy travelers, check out these coloring books from Culture to Color. The adult coloring craze is far from over, and these books inspired by travel make the perfect gift for your travel buddy! They’re great for passing time on a road trip or just relaxing and being creative. I have the Tuscany book, but there are several other destinations available with more coming soon!
Camera Gear
I never travel anywhere without my camera. Most travelers want to have plenty of photos to remember their adventures. Personally, I love photography, and getting a new lens for my camera is one of my favorite things. Sometimes it’s hard to buy camera gear for someone when you don’t know what they have, but you can always buy camera straps, bags, and other accessories. But if you’re looking for a new lens that is perfect for travel and won’t break the bank, this lens is my favorite.
Another thing I always love to receive is vintage cameras. It doesn’t matter if they work or not, because I just love them for decor. Antique cameras make the coolest decorations. As far as gift giving goes, it doesn’t require any knowledge about what photography gear the person already has to find an old camera at a flea market or online.
If you want to see more of my favorite photography gear and accessories, check out what’s in my camera bag.
Travel Journal
Another way travelers love to remember their adventures is through journaling. A new travel journal is always a good gift for someone who will be traveling a lot. You can get a journal specifically made for travel, or any nice notebook will do if it’s durable and has plenty of space for writing and photos.
ENO Hammock
For the traveler who loves the outdoors, a hammock is always a fun gift. I’m actually not an outdoorsy girl, but I always take my hammock with me if I’m going to be outside at all. My ENO has come in handy more times than I can count! It’s perfect for relaxing and taking in the scenery, reading a book, or writing in a travel journal!
Don’t forget that the hammock straps are sold separately!
Polaroid Mini Photo Printer
How better to fill a travel journal than with Polaroid pictures from your trip? With this photo printer, you don’t even have to buy a special camera. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth, so any pictures taken with your phone or downloaded to your phone from a camera can be printed with or without the signature Polaroid frame. The Polaroid paper is sold separately, but this printer is an overall much easier experience than using a camera that prints pictures. Not to mention, you can edit the photos on your phone before you print them, so you aren’t wasting film on pictures you don’t like.
Backpacks
People who travel a lot can always use more luggage. Suitcases, small bags, and backpacks are all great gifts. In addition, backpacks and purses are great for everyday use as well as traveling. 
Makeup/Toiletry Bags
You can never have too many makeup bags! Small makeup bags and toiletry bags are a necessity for anyone who travels, even just for overnight trips. You can get a simple little bag to keep small items separate from other luggage, or a compartmentalized bag to hold bottles, toothbrushes, and anything else you might need while traveling. And to make it extra fun, fill the bag with goodies like nail polish, toiletries, or even candy to make it an even better gift!
Luggage
If you want a gift that will really wow your travel-loving friend, consider a hard side luggage set! I love my Skyway Oasis 3.0 luggage set from Kohl’s. The rose gold is just my style (if you haven’t figured that out by now), but they have several other colors to choose from. If you want a quality suitcase that rolls like a dream, this is the luggage set for you. The set comes with 20 in. carryon, 24 in. and 28 in. suitcases.
I hope you found the perfect gift for your travel buddy in this holiday gift guide! If you have any more ideas, I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Don’t forget! You can join my email list to be notified when any new travel or photography content is posted on the blog. And you get access to my free resource library full of printables for travelers!
Recommended:
Tips for Packing a Carry-On Like a Pro
Travel Must-Haves: Essentials for Any Packing List
3 Reasons Why You Should Keep a Travel Journal
Pin this gift guide so you can come back to it later for ideas!
This holiday gift recommendation for travellers is amazing! đâď¸ These inventive suggestionsâfrom cosy trekking socks to scratch-off mapsâare ideal for those with a wanderlust. I appreciate your inspiration.